Abstract : All of the materials studied were found to have comparable properties and microstructures when conventionally heat treated and quenched and when heat treated in vacuum and quenched by gas. In fact, in some materials, improved properties were attained by the gas-quenching process. Brazed joints of good quality were achieved by the process in all the materials studied except the 2014 aluminum, for which no suitable brazing alloy with low enough melting point is available, the 2219 aluminum in which incipient melting of grain boundaries occurred, and the 18Ni250 steel in which brazed joints with good flow and filleting were achieved but in which quite a bit of porosity was present. The results indicate that the vacuum-brazing, vacuum-heating, and gas-quenching process holds promise as a reliable method of joining certain materials. (Author)